Chicago National Association o f Dance MastersSpring 2015

Harrison McEldowney: Artistic Achievement AwArd honoree FROM COLLABORATING WITH SAMMY DAVIS JR. TO SALT N PEPA …

from choreographing at the Olympics to Carnegie Hall…and now to Schaumburg,

IL, as guest of honor at CNADM’s 103rd Annual Awards Banquet!

Join us Thursday evening, July 23, as we present acclaimed choreographer Harrison

McEldowney with CNADM’s Artistic Achievement Award.

A native of Texas, McEldowney’s proficiency at witty, often comedic choreography has

taken him to Japan, Germany, Argentina, Great Britain and beyond. The list of companies

with which he has collaborated is extensive as well: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Hubbard

Street 2, River North Chicago Dance Company, Cerqua Rivera Art Experience, Civic Ballet of

Chicago, Ballet Met, Louisville Ballet, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, and more.

A highlight of McEldowney’s career was choreographing Carnegie Hall’s “Give My

Regards to Broadway: A Salute to 125 Years of Musical Theater.” One year later,

his innovative work was enjoyed by millions worldwide who viewed the closing

ceremonies of the ‘92 Summer Olympic Games. McEldowney also lent his touch

to the 35th Anniversary Tour of American Bandstand and the Australian Concert

Tour of More Dirty Dancing.

Having conquered the challenges of choreography on land, our award recipient

most recently took his talents to sea, directing spectacular shows for Royal

Caribbean. We’re thrilled to have him as a familiar faculty member at CNADM

Workshops, including this summer.

Harrison McEldowney’s accomplishments have been recognized with the inaugural

Prince Prize, Ruth Page, After Dark and Choo-San Goh Awards—and now, the CNADM

Artistic Achievement Award. Congratulations, Harrison, on your signature style that

stands apart from the crowd!

2 CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com

2014-2015 CNADM PresidentSue Girten, MDE

Dear Members of CNADM,

I love chocolate! To be specific, Dove Promises® dark chocolates. These little gems are not only

satisfying to the palette and calming to the nerves, but come wrapped in an inspirational foil message.

Recently, I indulged and received this sage advice: “Don’t settle for a spark...light a fire instead!”

How timely, because here at CNADM, we’re knee-deep in planning our Summer Workshops—and

I believe this event is what YOU need to transform that spark into a roaring fire!

Summer Workshops will take place July 20-27 at the Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg, IL. Here’s a

preview of what we have in store for you:

Business Classes are back on Friday, July 24. Any teacher registered for Training School or

Convention may take advantage of these invaluable educational courses geared toward small business/

studio owners. For an additional fee, send your office manager too! Due to popular demand,

Lunchtime Networking also returns. This is a wonderful opportunity for all dance instructors (not

just studio owners) to bounce ideas, challenges and solutions off one another.

After a full day of learning, it’s time for some nightlife—CNADM style! Our Annual Awards

Banquet (Thursday, July 23) is always a glamorous and FUN evening; be there as we honor one of

CNADM’s favorite faculty regulars, choreographer Harrison McEldowney. Please note that our Banquet

and Ballet Gala will begin at 7:30 p.m. this year, a half-hour earlier than usual. Sunday night’s Student

Competition also promises to be an exciting night; in fact, this event has grown so much that it will

now be held in two ballrooms to accommodate all!

Other workshops may fizzle out on the last day, but following our last class on Monday, July

27, you definitely won’t want to miss CNADM’s Wrap-Up Rally. Student Honors Awards will be

presented—always a moving moment or ten—along with some surprises from our faculty. Wrap-Up

Rally is sure to send everyone back to their studios with burning flames of inspiration and knowledge!

I can’t wait to see each of you this summer. In the meantime, let’s think warm, sunny thoughts to get

us through the rest of winter…and get into the mindset for amazing CNADM experiences ahead.

All the best,

Susan M. Girten, MDE

CNADM President

414-418-5468 | smgirten@hotmail.com

2014-2015 CNADM Board of Directors

President Sue Girten, MDEPresident Elect

Julie Bodle, MDE 2nd Vice President

Yvonne Groves, MDE 3rd Vice President Faye Willet, MDE4th Vice President

Laurel Soderstrom-Davis, MDE

5th Vice President Debbie Felton, MDE

Secretary Donna Ziegler, MDETreasurer Terri Sinani, MDE

Principal Linda McDonald, MDEEducational Director Suzanne Swanson

Wagner, MDERepresentatives Director

Jeanette Wey-Wissmiller, MDESergeant-at-Arms

Millie Landers

DirectorsSandy Black, MDELori Bowen, MDE

Bonnie Cagle, MDE Kay Davis Hamielec, CDEDarlene Harpwood, MDE

Anne JensenMary Katic, MDE

Board AssistantsCheryl Kaiser, MDE

LaVerne (Lovey) Lehman, MDE Geri Mroz Panicko, MDE

Dorene Wackerfuss, MDE

Follow CNADM on FaceBook

From the President...

Get all the workshop details online at cnadm.com CNADM—A Century of Dance

summer dance workshopsjuly 20 - 27, 2015 | hyatt regency [schaumburg], illinois

faculty melissaandersonvalentinabarsukovalauragatesbrandonkoepsellharrisonmceldowney

safiyyahrasoolconniefagansweeneyvictoriabarlowjuliecartier

dianegudatjoshmanculichjulienakagawatyneshillingford

CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com 3

Choreography Festival includes International Dance ShowcaseBy Dr. Stephenie Slahor, CNADM Life Member

The 17th annual Choreography Festival, held in

Palm Desert, California at the McCallum Theatre,

expanded to include an international array of

professional companies, all to create a week of

competition, performance and public school master

classes and dance opportunities.

The Choreography Festival is now considered

one of the major US choreography competitions

and, over its history, has presented 579

choreographers and their works, and awarded over

$500,000. This year’s competition had 114

submissions. Winning the Division 1 Grand Prize

was Danielle Agami’s work, Mouth to Mouth, performed by the Ate9

Dance Company. The Second Place Award went to Lindsay Nelko’s

Ascension, performed by Joshua Reynolds and Jo-Ann Sundermeir of

the Smuin Ballet. A paid engagement was awarded to Lauren Edson

whose work, After The Rain, was performed by the Houston MET

Dance Company. Also qualifying as finalist choreographers were

Nichelle Bane, Joelle Martinec, Christopher Stuart, and Petr

Zahradnicek.

The Division 2 (pre-professional) Grand Prize Award was given to

Dana Metz for her work The Wolves, with the Second Place Award to

Spencer Gavin Hering for his work Fibonacci. The finalists also

included Jared Baker, Ronald Brown, Mishi Castroverde, Sean

Dahlberg, Francisco Gella, Jocelyn Hrzic, Jacob Montoya, Connie

Mathot, and Liselle Yap.

Division 1 Judges were Barbara Arms, Victoria Looseleaf, Dale

Merrill, Wendy Rogers, Renae Williams Niles, and Keith Young.

Division 2 Judges were Barbara Arms, Stephanie Eley, Dale Merrill,

Wendy Rogers and Keith Young.

The 2014 Choreography Festival Lifetime Achievement Award was

given to Suzanne Farrell in honor of her prestigious career as a

ballerina. Ms. Farrell received her early training at the Cincinnati

Conservatory of Music, then received a Ford

Foundation scholarship at the School of American

Ballet. She became one of George Balanchine’s New

York City Ballet’s muses for whom he choreographed

such works as Diamonds, Chaconne, Mozartiana, and

Meditation. She later performed with the Maurice

Bejart Ballet du XXe Siecle in Brussels, and then

returned to the New York City Ballet. Over her long

career of 28 years, she performed more than one

hundred ballets, of which nearly one-third were

created expressly for her by Balanchine and others

including Jerome Robbins and Maurice Bejart.

She began an association with The John F. Kennedy

Center for the Performing Arts in 1993 and created the Kennedy

Center’s own ballet company, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, of which she

serves as Artistic Director. She is a repetiteur for the George Balanchine

Trust, which oversees the world-wide licensing and production of

Balanchine’s works.

When accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award, Farrell spoke

about her career and her long association with Balanchine’s

choreography. She told a story that in rehearsing one of his ballets, she

had some difficulty with a particular step that she kept missing. She

attributed it to the fact that the character was supposed to be feeling

deep love, but that she herself was only in her late teens and had never

been in love yet, and perhaps could not summon the right feeling at

that particular step. So she mustered the gumption to ask Balanchine

to consider a change in the step, saying that it kept turning out

“awkward.” Balanchine replied, “Sometimes love is awkward.” The

step did not change!

The International Dance Festival now associated with the

Choreography Festival saw the performing talents of BalletBoyz® of

the United Kingdom, Switzerland’s Mummenschanz, South Korea’s

SEOP Dance Company, and the Royal Ballet of Cambodia (presenting

educational programs to local school children and youth).

Scholarships Galore!CNADM College Scholarship award has increased to a total of $5,000

in scholarships! Students are eligible to apply for scholarships at the $2,000, $1,500, $1,000 and $500 levels for the 2015/2016 school year.

The application forms for the CNADM Workshops Scholarships and the Yvonne Brown Collodi College Scholarship have been mailed out to members. If you have not received your applications, please contact the CNADM office. CNADM will award up to 26 scholarships for our 2015 Summer Workshops.

In addition, merit scholarships will be awarded on-site at the workshops for attendance at Fall 2015 or Summer 2016 Workshops. Scholarship forms are available online at cnadm.com/scholarships.

Thank YouTo those who have supported the CNADM Scholarship Program

with donations during the past twelve months—

Terry Bucaro, MDE

Anne Jensen

Virginia Lee Kehl Mackesey, MDE

Janet Streenz, MDE

Dr. Stephenie Slahor, CNADM Life Member with Suzanne Farrell, 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree at the 17th Annual Choreography Festival, McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, California.

Honoring the Best at the Annual Awards Banquet

CNADM’s 103rd Annual Awards Banquet

will be held on Thursday, July 23 at 7:30p

in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency,

Schaumburg, IL. Besides being a fun opportunity

to relax and enjoy the evening with your fellow

CNADM members, we will be presenting our

Annual Awards.

Members who are not attending the Summer Workshops but would like to attend the banquet are welcome! The cost is $65 per person. Simply complete and return the Special Events registration form which can be found on our website at cnadm.com.

Required Skill Level for Dance & More Students

CNADM’s Dance & More program is designed

with classes of particular interest to the maturing

dance student who is considering pursuit of a

professional dance career. In order for students to

receive maximum benefits, there is a required skill

level of intermediate to high-intermediate, and be a

minimum of 16 yrs. old. If you have additional

questions about Dance & More, please contact the

CNADM office at 815-397-6282.

CNADM’s Outstanding Member of the Year Award

In 2014, CNADM honored the fifth recipient of

the outstanding Member of the Year Award, Kristina

Collier, MDE. The award recognizes a member who

has gone above and beyond in promoting and

supporting CNADM as well as supporting the art of

dance within their community at large. The

nomination forms have been sent to all the

members (call the office if you didn’t receive one).

Get Your Summer Workshops Forms and Applications Utilize our website cnadm.com for all your Summer Workshops information!

25-Year Members Terry Bucaro, MDE Kay Davis Hamielec, CDE Kathleen Kinner

50-Year MembersMary Ann Cocoran, MDE Lillian Coulson Sharon Parsons

Welcome to the Summer Workshops!CNADM Summer Workshops will be held once more at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg this summer,

2015. The hotel is located only 30 miles from the exceptional shops, restaurants and cultural attractions

of downtown Chicago, and nine miles from the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Enjoy a short, five

minute drive to the Schaumburg Convention Center and convenient access to the famous Woodfield Mall,

the Midwest’s largest shopping center. With complimentary shuttle service, getting to the Woodfield Mall,

Schaumburg Convention Center, and nearby Chicago business centers and attractions just got easier.

CNADM has secured special room rates of $125 for a double/double (1-4 people) or king (1-2

people rooms. Executive King is $145.00 and Junior Suite with 1 King is $225.00.

These rates will only be honored through June 26, 2015 or earlier if the block of rooms sells out, so call

the hotel or reserve your rooms online at woodfield.hyatt.com.

Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago

1800 East Golf Road,

Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, 60173

Hotel Reservations: 1-888-421-1412

Hyatt Gold Passport Members will receive complimentary WiFi in the guest rooms. Sign up by visiting the following link: www.hyatt.com/gp/en/benefits/join.jsp OR join at the front desk upon check-in.

4 CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com

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CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com 5

WE’VE GONE GREEN! Dance Notes will be available online for download prior to the workshops. Watch for your confirmation letter and e-mails for instructions on how to access this information!

Learn new techniques and brush up

your skills—attend Workshops taught

by these world-class instructors! ATTEND THE CNADM BUSINESS WORKSHOPS

Tune Up your Studio Business

Special CNADM Members Only Session Friday, July 24These sessions are designed to help the studio owner or business manager tune up their business practices. Attendance is included in the Training School or Convention registration fee for CNADM Members Only. A business manager of a CNADM Member studio may attend only these sessions for a $50 registration fee. These sessions run concurrently with dance classes. All three instructors will remain in the classroom after the sessions are complete to address individual questions and concerns.

The Nuts & Bolts of Social Networking 9:00 – 10:15 am • Friday, July 24

You know you need to setup your email promotions…but where to start? Join Heather Kelley and Chris Kelley of V2 Marketing Communications as they take you, step-by-step, through the actual process of doing just that. A session that helps both the novice and the experienced alike!

Retirement and Succession Planning for Studio Owners 10:30 – 11:45 am • Michael Bernard, CFP, Korhorn Financial Group

What are the five key factors small-business owners must consider when developing a retirement plan? What additional issues come into play when transferring studio ownership? During this presentation, you’ll learn the best options for navigating your business toward retirement, get the details on Succession Planning, discuss timelines for when to consider specific items, and more.

815-397-6282 | www.cnadm.com

summer dance workshopsjuly 20 - 27, 2015 | hyatt regency [schaumburg], illinois

melissaanderson

valentinabarsukova

lauragates

brandonkoepsell

harrisonmceldowney

safiyyahrasool

conniefagansweeney

victoriabarlow

juliecartier

dianegudat

joshmanculich

julienakagawa

tyneshillingford

faculty

Can’t attend the Summer Workshops?If you can’t attend the summer workshops, you can still get a copy of the dance notes

that are distributed at the workshops. Contact the CNADM office for details.

Mini DivisionMINI SOLOHip Hop Platinum: “Boogie Man” Artistry in Motion

Jazz Platinum: “I Would Die 4 U” Academy of Dance Arts

Lyrical Platinum: “Forever Young” Artistry in Motion

MINI DUOHip Hop Gold: “I Wish” Lake Forest Dance Academy

MINI GROUPJazz Platinum: “If My Friends” Mohler Dance Academy

Junior DivisionJUNIOR SOLOBallet Gold: “Chord Left” Artistry in Motion

Gold: “All I Want Is You” Amy’s School of Dance

Jazz Platinum: “Terrible Things” Artistry in Motion

Platinum: “Flashdance” Forevermore Dance & Theatre Arts

Jazz Platinum: “Feelin’ Good” Artistry in Motion

Lyrical Platinum: “Creep” Artistry in Motion

Platinum: “Roar” Artistry in Motion

Tap Platinum: “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” Amy’s School of Dance

Platinum: “Puttin’ on the Ritz” Artistry in Motion

JUNIOR DUO/TRIOHip Hop Platinum: “Animals” Lake Forest Dance Academy

Jazz Platinum: “Sister Sister” Academy of Dance Arts

JUNIOR GROUPJazz Platinum: “Disco Inferno” Lake Forest Dance Academy

Platinum: “The Big Dollhouse” Artistry in Motion

Platinum: “Steam Heat” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Gold: “I Need A Hero” Elation Dance Center

Lyrical Gold: “Smile” Elation Dance Center

Tap Platinum: “Happy Feet” Lake Forest Dance Academy

JUNIOR LINEJazz Platinum: “Follow” Mohler Dance Academy

Lyrical Platinum: “Happy Ending” Forevermore Dance & Theatre Arts

Open Platinum: “King of New York” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Tap Platinum: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Intermediate DivisionINTERMEDIATE SOLOBallet Platinum: “Coppelia Waltz” Forevermore Dance & Theatre Arts

Jazz Gold: “Until We Bleed” DancEd. Dance Centre

Lyrical Platinum: “Because of You” DancEd. Dance Centre

Platinum: “Freight Train” Artistry in Motion

Platinum: “Sweet Child of Mine” Dean/Black School of the Performing Arts

Gold: “Hanging On” DancEd. Dance Centre

Open Platinum: “Hide And Seek” DancEd. Dance Centre

Platinum: “Sand” DancEd. Dance Centre

Platinum: “Love Lockdown” Academy of Dance Arts

INTERMEDIATE DUO/TRIOJazz Platinum: “Dollhouse” Artistry in Motion

Gold: “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” Mohler Dance Academy

Open Platinum: “Without You” DancEd. Dance Centre

Gold: “Stand By Me” DancEd. Dance Centre

INTERMEDIATE GROUPLyrical Platinum: “Here Comes The Sun” Lake Forest Dance Academy Platinum: “I Found” In Motion Dance Studio

Tap Platinum: “Feet To The Sky” Lake Forest Dance Academy

INTERMEDIATE LINEHip Hop Platinum: “Morning After Dark” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Jazz Platinum: “Get Ready” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Open Platinum: “Siamsa” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Mini DivisionKiley White, Artistry in Motion,“Boogie Man”Junior DivisionJordin Suwalski, Artistry in Motion,“Terrible Things”

Intermediate DivisionAlexis Mankoff, DancEd. Dance Centre, “Because Of You”Senior DivisionMeghan Hanrahan, Artistry in Motion, “You Say”

OVERALL WINNERS:

CNADM 2014 Fall Student Competition FinalsThanks to all who participated in the Student Competition and congratulations to all the winners!

FA L L W O R K S H O P S W R A P - U P6 CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com

Mini Division Overall Winner Kiley White, Artistry in Motion

Junior Division Overall Winner Jordan Suwalski, Artistry in Motion

Intermediate Division Overall Winner Alexis Mankoff, Dance Centre

Senior Division Overall Winner Meghan Hanrahan, Artistry in Motion

CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com 7

NEW! Workshop Wrap-Up Rally to close Student Honors Program

Summer Workshops will close on Monday with a very special event featuring our new Workshop Wrap-Up Rally! Immediately following the last class of the day, teachers, students and parents will gather to celebrate the accomplishments of dancers who have demonstrated their knowledge through testing. In conjunction with Student Competition and the presentation of Student Honor Awards, Workshop Wrap-Up Rally will surprise all with an exciting performance, prizes, special guest emcee and more!

Virginia Davis was recognized for 50 years of membership in the Dance Masters of WI during their Miss DMW Scholarship Pageant on November 22. Virginia is a long time member of CNADM, past president of DMW and owner of Virginia Davis School of Dance in Madison, WI. CNADM members Gerri Lory and Sue Girten are new inductees to the DMW Hall of Fame. Criteria for nominations: The nominee must be an active member of the Dance Masters of Wisconsin for a minimum of 25 years. He/She must have also made contributions above and beyond to the organization and/or achieved recognition in the dance world. The event was held during the Miss DMW Scholarship Pageant on November 22.

In MemoriumMaria “Marie” Konopa Bak, age 91 passed away on October 18, 2014. Born in Chicago, Marie studied dance and performed at the Palmer House under Merle Abbott. As a young dancer, she traveled the world as captain of the original June Taylor Dancers, USO.

In the 1940s Marie went to Hollywood to try her talent in movies, later owning dance studios in Chicago and suburbs. She received the Illinois Governor’s Senior Leadership Award for Health and Physical Fitness in 1990. Her greatest reward in life was teaching youngsters and making children’s eyes light up. Marie was a 70-year member of CNADM joining in 1944.

Monica Grace Bischoff, age 53 passed away on January 22, 2014. Born in Verona, WI, Monica was a former assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Madison and former principal at St. Peter School in Ashton.

She had many passions including spending time with her husband and family, dance and physical fitness, education and deepening her Catholic faith. Monica was a 36 year member of CNADM, joining in 1978.

Employment OpportunityRegional dance school in northern Indiana, with two locations, has openings for both full- and part-time faculty for the 2015-16 school year and beyond.

Qualified applicants teaching one or more of the following subjects: ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip-hop should email resumé to dws1949@aol.com.

Member News

2015 Unity Scholarship Recipient

CNADM is pleased to announce the 2015 Unity Scholarship recipient:

n Jennifer Wolfe will receive a $500 scholarship for Teachers Continuing Education.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

Senior DivisionSENIOR SOLO

Ballet Platinum: “Ascension” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Jazz Platinum: “The Garden” Artistry in Motion

Platinum: “Dance With Me Tonight” Marilyn’s School of Dance

Lyrical Platinum: “You Say” Artistry in Motion

Open Platinum: “In My City” Elation Dance Center

SENIOR DUO/TRIOLyrical Platinum: “Friends” Elation Dance Center

SENIOR GROUPBallet Platinum: “You Make Me Feel So Young” Elation Dance CenterJazz Platinum: “Sweet Dreams” Marilyn’s School of DanceGold: “Feelin’ Good” Elation Dance Center Lyrical Platinum: “Say” Elation Dance CenterTap Platinum: “Die Another Day” Marilyn’s School of Dance

SENIOR LINELyrical Platinum: “Picture This Perfect” Lake Forest Dance Academy

FA L L W R A P - U P

8 CNADM News / Spring 2015 www.cnadm.com

Follow CNADM on FaceBookMake sure you connect with CNADM on

FaceBook and become a fan. We’ll send out updates about upcoming workshops and as well as

news and tips/techniques for the dance teacher. Use the site to send us your comments and suggestions!

You can always contact the CNADM offices at: 220 East State St. Suite G Rockford, IL 61104 p 815-397-6052 f 815-397-6799 e dance@cnadm.com

Have a question about a CNADM committee or activity?

You can always contact the office at 815-397-6282 OR you can talk to the Committee Chair. The 2015 Committee Chairs are:

Education Suzanne Swanson Wagner, MDE Exhibitors Lori Bowen, MDE Membership Bonnie Cagle, MDE National Ballet Forum Debbie Felton, MDE Principal Linda McDonald, MDE Scholarships – Workshops Laurel Soderstrom-Davis, MDE Scholarships –College Yvonne Groves, MDE Student Competition Lori Bowen, MDE Student Honors Millie Landers

Get more out of your CNADM membership by volunteering to help with one of these committees!

Chicago National Association of Dance Masters220 E. State St., Suite GRockford, IL 61104